Things people ask

A card arrived and I have no idea who sent it

That is how it works. I paint postcards, write a kindness on the back by hand, and send them to people I have never met. Somebody chose that card and that message for a stranger, and the stranger turned out to be you. They will never know it reached you unless you tell me.

How did you get my address?

Two ways, and only two. Either you gave it to me, or it came from a list of residential addresses I bought from a company that sells them legally. Those have no names on them at all — the card goes to Current Resident, because I do not know who lives there.

What are the numbers on the back?

Every card has one. Type it into Find your card and you will see the painting on the front, the message, and anything else anyone has left about it. It is also how you leave a note for me.

Are the cards written in English?

Yes. Every card is written by hand, by me, in English.

[Lois — this is the one you wanted covered. You might add what someone should do if English is not their first language, or say plainly that you cannot write in others.]

What does a card cost?

Eight dollars. That includes the sleeve it travels in and the stamp already on it.

Two things can add to it. Sending a card abroad costs $1.50 more, because it needs a Global Forever stamp instead of a US one. And if you ask for the card to come to your own home first, so you can address it yourself, there is a charge for the envelope and the postage to you — added once for the whole order, not for each card.

[Lois — the envelope figure is the one you are finding out at the post office. Fill it in once you know.]

Will the person know I sent it?

No, unless you tell them yourself. If you send to a stranger from the pool, they will know the card came from this project, because the website is written on the back — that is how they find it and leave a note. What they will not know is who chose it for them.

Can I choose what it says?

You choose from the kindnesses I have written. You cannot write your own, because I write every card in my own hand and these are my words. There are more than fifty to pick from, sorted by the sort of day somebody might be having.

How long does it take to arrive?

[Lois — your answer. Worth being honest rather than optimistic: these are handmade and posted by one person. A week? Two?]

I want to receive a card

Add your address on Get a card and it goes into the pool that people draw from. You can be named on the card or stay Current Resident — your choice.

I should be straight with you about the wait. There are hundreds of addresses in the pool and one of me, so it may be a long time, and I cannot promise a date.

What do you do with my address?

I hold it until the card is written and posted. When I upload the scan of the back, the address is deleted. It is never shown on the card's page and it never goes into the pool unless you ask for it to.

If you give me an address for someone else — a friend you are sending a card to — the same applies. It is used once and deleted.

I would rather not receive another

Tell me and I will make sure of it. Once an address has been used it is deleted anyway, so nothing arrives twice by accident. If you had added yourself to the pool and want out, ask and you are out.

Can I say something back?

Please do. Type your card's number into Find your card and there is a box there. I read every note before it goes up.

If you would rather say something to me privately, about the project rather than a particular card, there is a separate way to do that and it does not appear anywhere on the site.

[Lois — that last line describes the comment page, which does not exist yet. Either it gets built or this paragraph goes.]

Can I buy one in person?

Yes. They are at Prema Shala, 111 Main Street, Littleton, New Hampshire. The cards there are sleeved, stamped and already written in. Pick one, address it to someone you know or take a random address, and the shop will mail it for you.

Who are you?

[Lois — as much or as little as you want. People who receive a card from a stranger do wonder. A few sentences is plenty, and it does not have to be your life story.]

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